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A Mere Accident
A Mere Accident

Chapter I

Cover illustration for A Mere Accident
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.
The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.
Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.
How fair a prospect of southern England!
Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Mere Accident

Chapter I

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.
Line 2
The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.
Line 3
Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.
Line 4
How fair a prospect of southern England!
Line 5
Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “How fair a prospect of southern England!”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.”

All words in this reading · 62

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

autumn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

bank

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

boys

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

broad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

class

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

classes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

deftly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

down

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

dripping

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

England

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How fair a prospect of southern England!

exquisite

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading How fair a prospect of southern England!

fro

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

grasses

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

hedges

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

Henfield

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

homeliness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

How

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How fair a prospect of southern England!

hundred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

interwoven

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

Land

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

leading

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

loiter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

lush

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

luxuriant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

nursemaids

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

prospect

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How fair a prospect of southern England!

quiet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

rain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

Restless

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

road

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

sat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

scramble

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

small

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

smooth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

southern

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading How fair a prospect of southern England!

Sussex

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

tall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The grasses are lush, and the hedges are tall and luxuriant.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

Three

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

vagrant

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

waxing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Land of exquisite homeliness and order; land of town that is country, of country that is town; land of a hundred classes all deftly interwoven and all waxing to one class--England.

white

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Restless boys scramble to and fro, quiet nursemaids loiter, and a vagrant has sat down to rest though the bank is dripping with autumn rain.

yards

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Three hundred yards of smooth, broad, white road leading from Henfield, a small town in Sussex.